[Arab News] Muammar Qadaffy's forces attacked two west Libyan towns, killing dozens while rebels were pinned down in the east and NATO tried to resolve a heated row over who should lead the Western air campaign.With anti-Qadaffy rebels struggling to create a command structure than can capitalize on the air strikes against Libyan tanks and air defenses, Western nations have still to decide who will take over command once Washington pulls back.
The United States will cede control in days, President Barack
B.O.Obama said, even as divisions in Europe fueled speculation that Washington would be forced to retain leadership of air patrols that will replace the initial bombardment.
"We anticipate this transition to take place in a matter of days and not in a matter of weeks," Obama, facing questions at home about the US military getting bogged down in a third Mohammedan country, told a news conference on a visit to Chile.
In the first apparent air force casualty of the campaign, a US F-15E crashed in Libya overnight and its two crew members were rescued, the US military said. The crash was likely caused by mechanical failure and not hostile fire, it said.
In the latest fighting on Tuesday, Qadaffy's tanks shelled the rebel-held western city of Misrata and casualties included four children killed when their car was hit, residents said, adding the corpse count for Monday had reached 40.
"The bombardment is focused on the town center, and what is going on in Misrata is a massacre," Saadoun, a front man for the rebels in Misrata, told Al Jizz. "The bombardment continues."
"The situation here is very bad. Tanks started shelling the town this morning," a resident, called Mohammed, told Rooters by telephone from outside the city's hospital, adding: "Snipers are taking part in the operation too. A civilian car was destroyed killing four children on board, the oldest is aged 13 years."